France star Karim Benzema looks miserable on holiday of a lifetime after Euro 2016 snub
KARIM BENZEMA looks to be on the holiday of a lifetime... wishing he was anywhere but the Maldives.
The Real Madrid man met Keanu Reeves as he jetted off first class to the idyllic islands surrounded by turquoise sea – but appeared to have a very different shade of blue on his mind.
Benzema originally planned to be leading the line for hosts France at Euro 2016 this summer.
But he was axed by boss Didier Deschamps over his alleged involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape scandal.
And with Les Bleus’ football party in full swing, Benzema has been cast adrift to a beach in the Indian Ocean.
One of he posts contained a particularly cryptic caption, possibly as a thinly veiled swipe at his critics.
The post read: “Cause I ain’t mad at cha.”
While another included a video of him riding around on a pier - looking totally miserable - before he posted another snap of tucking into an absolute feast.
It would appear the ideal way to take his mind off his worries and prepare for Los Blancos’ new season as a European club champion.
But a series of Instagram posts and other snaps showed the 81-cap striker was barely able to raise a smile.
Les Bleus finished top of Group A to book a last-16 date with Republic of Ireland in Lyon on Sunday afternoon.
And there has been plenty of fun along the way after they sealed dramatic wins in their opening two games against Romania and Albania - both with last-gasp goals.
Despite a draw with Switzerland in their final group game, those wins ensured Les Bleus topped the group and will now face Martin O’Neill’s men ahead of a potential quarter-final clash with England at the Stade de France next Sunday.
Benzema will not be part of any of that – but he has been handed a lifeline by the French Football Federation.
President Noel Le Graet said: "Benzema is not suspended for life.
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"I have never been in favour of lifetime suspensions.
"He was not included in the final 23, I would have liked the legal proceedings to have advanced more quickly.
"The objective [of reaching the semi-finals] that was set out six months ago remains the same.
"I don't see why anyone would be surprised by the French national team as they have contested the matches just as we could have expected them to.
"The team did its job; it only conceded one goal. We have to take things one step at a time.”